What Does Compressor Maintenance Have to Do with The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals?

As extreme weather events become more numerous across the globe, there is increased attention in the news about the need for carbon emissions reduction. What does that mean? Carbon emissions reduction is a set of strategies to reduce the release of carbon dioxide, a type of greenhouse gas that is emitted into the atmosphere from human activities such as transportation, deforestation, electricity consumption, and industrial manufacturing. Hitachi has established carbon emissions reduction targets for all offices and manufacturing facilities by 2030 and throughout the value chain by 2050.

You may be asking what reducing carbon emissions has to do with compressed air installations. At Hitachi Global Air Power this topic is of utmost importance. We have several blogs (see the links below) about how companies can save energy when operating their air compressor to help reduce carbon emissions. But there is more to consider if your company is serious about sustainability and reducing operations environment impact.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 Global Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 we have a prosperous population in a planet we can all live in.

Furthermore, United Nations SDG 12 goal is about Sustainable Consumption and Production. Among the focus areas of this goal are “to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse procurement policies and action plans,” as well as to “reduce domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP.”

Compressor selection and maintenance can play a part in reducing (maintenance) waste generation:

1. Reducing lubricant waste. Sullube® has a life of up to 10,000 hours of operation. Many compressor brands offer lubricants that require lubricant changes every 3,000 hours. So, in a given/sample year, a Sullair compressor using Sullube may only use 50 liters of lubricant. Other brands may use up to 150 liters of lubricant in the same year.
2. Reducing air end overhauls and waste. Sullube provides non-varnishing performance, which helps air end efficiency and extends life, so there is less waste in the environment.  
3. Reducing condensate disposal. Sullube condensate is biodegradable and thus, has less impact on the environment.
4. Reducing number of parts. When selecting a compressor, it is important to ask about the maintenance schedule and the number of parts required over time. The more parts used for routine maintenance, the higher the environmental footprint associated with manufacture and supply of the parts, as well as disposal of the used items. Sullair machines are designed for lower life cycle environmental impact, which means fewer parts are required over a 5-year maintenance cycle.

In conclusion, proper sizing, maintenance and the brand of air compressor chosen can impact carbon emissions. Choosing a durable Sullair compressor and Sullube lubricant can help your company align with the United Nations SDG12. Good for the environment, good for cost saving, and good for a sustainable business.

How to Easily Increase Increase Efficiency in Your Compressed Air System

Six Low Cost Ways to Improve Your Compressed Air System

Spiral Valve Technology: An Energy-Saving Solution for Hot Climates and Dusty Environments